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Post by dobrostarr on May 27, 2015 11:11:52 GMT -7
I have recently bought a monza. I realize that it was designed to break up quickly, however without playing through it first I didn't realize how quickly. I am not an amp guy. I just like to plug in and play (also why I bought a monza). I have scrolled through the forums to see what tube changes I can make to achieve a little more clean but it is over my head and it seems that there are a lot of opinions and back and forth... Can anyone give me a bare bones answer? I just need bullet points of what I need to purchase. I realize there will be some give and take if I change up what the Z guys stocked it with...if it doesn't work out I'll just change it back.
I love the amp! I really do! I just didn't quite realize the beast that was being released!
Thanks so much for any help!
Adam
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Post by pcns on May 27, 2015 13:04:59 GMT -7
What speaker are you using? Guitar and pick ups?
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Post by dobrostarr on May 27, 2015 19:16:40 GMT -7
Duncan lil 59. 10" red fang
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on May 27, 2015 20:06:49 GMT -7
Just got done playing my Monza with a Tele with a lil 59 in the bridge. I have a DrZ 10 in mine but have used a red fang also. With it I might thin out the tone a little more. My suggestions would be get a nos american 12AX7 for V1. Then Volume and Drive at 12:00 and Tone at 10:00. Guitar volume up 1/2 or less. You might also try plugging the speaker in the 4 ohm tap rather than the 8. I can get cleans with a little hair there and then more breakup as I turn the guitar volume up.
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Post by doctorice on May 28, 2015 4:05:07 GMT -7
Has anyone tried a 5751 in V1?
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Post by pcns on May 28, 2015 4:26:11 GMT -7
Has anyone tried a 5751 in V1? I was 4hink8ng the same thing Mike
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Post by dobrostarr on May 28, 2015 9:25:59 GMT -7
I appreciate it. Never thought of changing the ohm. I actually haven't considered putting my Gtr volumes @ 1/2. I generally roll back a quarter then back up for lead. I'll give some of this a try after work. I appreciate you guys keeping it simple for me!
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on May 28, 2015 10:57:53 GMT -7
You might also want to try backing the drive off completely to start (full counter clockwise) and then creep it up if 12:00 is still too much. You could also back off the volume some, but the drive down will have more of an impact.
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Post by simpleton on May 28, 2015 12:49:17 GMT -7
I tried the 5751 in the V1 position and found that it added some fullness/roundness but not really less drive. Guitar volume is really helpful in using the Monza....plug and play sounds so simple but until we get use to using all the knobs on the guitar it can be frustrating. The Monza with the drive all the way down, tone to taste and volume set to your loudest desired level....then use guitar knobs to add variety....lastly use the drive knob a bit to thicken or a lot to fuzz out.
The Monza took me awhile to figure out what it had to offer and how it offered it but in the end I found it most wonderful and soulful. Enjoy the journey.
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Post by Stephen on May 28, 2015 13:11:27 GMT -7
I've had good cleans with volume and drive at 10, tone and master at 2. The secret is guitar volume. It needs to be at half for clean, seven for dirt, and hair at ten.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 28, 2015 17:30:51 GMT -7
I've never used my guitar volume as much as I do with the Monza. It's really true, that's the key. It's an amazing amp once you learn how to use it properly...I use it for everything from jazz to hard rock. It works great in the big band and with my 335 I can get serviceable cleans and great, fat bigness. Set the Volume for your max desired overdrive, and then use the Drive for juicing it up. A tiny box that feels huge, that's the Monza.
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Post by dobrostarr on May 29, 2015 10:27:09 GMT -7
you guys have really helped me. I am not changing anything on the amp. just rolling the volume off 1/2 has helped tremendously! I plan on putting a couple of pedals in front, a reverb, delay and a volume pedal. I'm thinking when i want more dirt for a solo, i can use the volume pedal to keep from blowing everyone's hair back when i roll my gtr volume up. Gonna keep playing around until i am comfortable but you guys have me going in the right direction. i really appreciate it. this amp is like no other amp I've ever used. the approach is definitely different.
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on May 29, 2015 19:50:31 GMT -7
With boutique amps in general and Dr Zs specifically, you will find you can go way lower on the volume than with the traditional name brands. I can get very usable sounds with the volume at 2 out of 10 with some of my Zs. You may also find you are using the tone knob more, because of the increased frequency range. I roll off tone on guitars that I don't when I play Fenders or Marshalls.
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Post by simpleton on May 30, 2015 0:54:44 GMT -7
My experience with Z amps is going on about 3 or 4 years now and it has helped me become a much better guitarist by sorta forcing me to become acquainted better with the knobs on my guitar. It just wasn't as needed with other amps I had owned....now it's really become more natural to reach for the guitar knobs instead of the amps.
Plus it got me hearing speaker, effect nuance, and cab differences more clearly...really my experience with the 3 Z's I've owned (Ghia, Monza,Therapy) has not only been fun but a really informative experience and I am grateful for having had it.
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